Mystery wooden box? Help identifying please - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Trauma56 · 11th Jul 2018, 1:45 am

Newbie Here. Background in everything, master of none. Found this wooden box at a local charity shop. Noted it was a shortwave receiver. It's just a nice thing of old. Got it home slid out the chassis. And oh my, the lower part has been destroyed by a battery mishap. The upper chassis, with the valves and capacitors are aged but unaffected by the corrosion. (so it seems?)I would like to repair?? There are no manufacture details to be found on the case, or in the case. Beside these numbers on the upper chassis. 4P 195? Any help in identifying this radio would be much appreciated.

Regards, Joe

G6Tanuki · 11th Jul 2018, 10:14 am

The valves look like "Hivac" midgets, which were produced in the late-1930s.

See http://g3ynh.info/valves/old/Data-Bo...vac/index.html

Station X · 11th Jul 2018, 10:18 am

Hello and welcome to the forums.

I'm not able to identify the set in question, but it is not a short wave receiver, as it only covers long and medium waves.

Can you tell us what valves are fitted please, as this may aid identification.

ms660 · 11th Jul 2018, 10:28 am

Frame antenna and other antenna inputs?

Lawrence.

paulsherwin · 11th Jul 2018, 10:42 am

I don't think it's military. It has the look of a piece of test equipment but the electronics appear to be a conventional TRF broadcast receiver with reaction, albeit with some extra controls. Could it have been used in a school or college?

Trauma56 · 11th Jul 2018, 10:55 am

Valves: AC XD 20v, HIVac XSG 20v, AC XY 20v.

There seems to be an Antenna built into the box door?

Thanks all for your reply's.

Question? Would I be able to use a AC/DC adapter/desktop power supply, to provide power to it. How many amp's, and voltage would be required? I know I need to go through it and check/replace wiring. Test caps and such. What else should check, before applying any power??

Thanks again.

Gridiron · 11th Jul 2018, 11:20 am

This is a portable receiver for use by yachtsmen, they were sold by Captain O.M.Watts, I think there is an article on it either in a BVWS Bulletin or a Radio Bygones. I posted about another receiver supplied by this company on this website some years ago.

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=112749

Mike.

HamishBoxer · 11th Jul 2018, 11:42 am

No adapter easily available.Possibly 2V or 1.5 LT needed and 100--120V for HT.

PS I have Not checked what these valves need for LT.

PPS Quick check possibly 2 Volts for heaters.

David Simpson · 11th Jul 2018, 12:05 pm

Speaking as a collector/restorer of old maritime equipment, I reckon you've got a nice old rare gem. Well worth your while restoring the base of the lovely cabinet. The whole wooden casing will varnish/polish up a dream. It looks like it might have a DF facility. Possibly by moving the detachable lid cum antenna. I think you'll find that they are 2.0V Filament valves, not 20V.
If I were you I'd follow up Mike's info & acquire a circuit diagram. The 2V Heater supply would've come from an Exide 2V Rechargeable Glass Cell. HT from an Ever Ready or Vidor Dry Battery. The XSG's Filament, for example, would draw 80mA from a 2.0V Cell, it's Anode would need 50V HT & draw 0.4mA, Screen would need 30V HT. The other valves(cant find any info in my AVO VDM, or Bernards), would be something similar. So bench supply-wise, you'd need 2V from a DC PSU & an HT PSU to give up to 100V DC. Many folk these days make up HT Battery Packs out of PP3 rechargeable batteries & fit them inside replica Ever Ready or Vidor cardboard packaging. I think you can easily download their profiles & print onto thin cardboard.

Regards, David

Trauma56 · 11th Jul 2018, 5:36 pm

Thanks so much for everyones replies, and info. Knowing who manufactured the radio will help sorting out parts, and wiring diagrams. I'll keep you updated as I progress with the restoration. I'm sure to have a thousand questions.

Kind regards to all. Joe

Craig Sawyers · 11th Jul 2018, 5:37 pm

They are all Hivac. The XD2.0 is a 2V heater triode (4 pin), and XY2.0 is a 2V heater pentode (5 pin), XSG is a 2V heater pentode (4 pin).

They are all listed in the AVO VCM163 manual. But that also has set up data for the other AVO valve testers too.

Craig

Trauma56 · 11th Jul 2018, 6:16 pm

Thanks Craig, I'll look into getting that manual.

Joe

Craig Sawyers · 12th Jul 2018, 11:25 am

An OCR version of the VCM163 data manual is here https://frank.pocnet.net/instruments...R-20150222.pdf

And the original source of that here

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=114306

newlite4 · 12th Jul 2018, 11:34 am

What a fantastic find Joe, I wish the charity shops over here in Bath had stuff like that!
Well Done,
Neil

11th Jul 2018, 1:45 am	#1
Trauma56 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Trowbridge, Wiltshire,UK. Posts: 4	Mystery wooden box? Help identifying please Newbie Here. Background in everything, master of none. Found this wooden box at a local charity shop. Noted it was a shortwave receiver. It's just a nice thing of old. Got it home slid out the chassis. And oh my, the lower part has been destroyed by a battery mishap. The upper chassis, with the valves and capacitors are aged but unaffected by the corrosion. (so it seems?)I would like to repair?? There are no manufacture details to be found on the case, or in the case. Beside these numbers on the upper chassis. 4P 195? Any help in identifying this radio would be much appreciated. Regards, Joe Attached Thumbnails

11th Jul 2018, 10:14 am	#2
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 13,996	Re: Mystery wooden box? Help identifying please The valves look like "Hivac" midgets, which were produced in the late-1930s. See http://g3ynh.info/valves/old/Data-Bo...vac/index.html

11th Jul 2018, 10:18 am	#3
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,288	Re: Mystery wooden box? Help identifying please Hello and welcome to the forums. I'm not able to identify the set in question, but it is not a short wave receiver, as it only covers long and medium waves. Can you tell us what valves are fitted please, as this may aid identification. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

11th Jul 2018, 10:28 am	#4
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Mystery wooden box? Help identifying please Frame antenna and other antenna inputs? Lawrence.

11th Jul 2018, 10:42 am	#5
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,941	Re: Mystery wooden box? Help identifying please I don't think it's military. It has the look of a piece of test equipment but the electronics appear to be a conventional TRF broadcast receiver with reaction, albeit with some extra controls. Could it have been used in a school or college?

11th Jul 2018, 10:55 am	#6
Trauma56 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Trowbridge, Wiltshire,UK. Posts: 4	Re: Mystery wooden box? Help identifying please Valves: AC XD 20v, HIVac XSG 20v, AC XY 20v. There seems to be an Antenna built into the box door? Thanks all for your reply's. Question? Would I be able to use a AC/DC adapter/desktop power supply, to provide power to it. How many amp's, and voltage would be required? I know I need to go through it and check/replace wiring. Test caps and such. What else should check, before applying any power?? Thanks again.

11th Jul 2018, 11:20 am	#7
Gridiron Heptode Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: West Midlands, UK. Posts: 662	Re: Mystery wooden box? Help identifying please This is a portable receiver for use by yachtsmen, they were sold by Captain O.M.Watts, I think there is an article on it either in a BVWS Bulletin or a Radio Bygones. I posted about another receiver supplied by this company on this website some years ago. https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=112749 Mike.

11th Jul 2018, 11:42 am	#8
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 8,932	Re: Mystery wooden box? Help identifying please No adapter easily available.Possibly 2V or 1.5 LT needed and 100--120V for HT. PS I have Not checked what these valves need for LT. PPS Quick check possibly 2 Volts for heaters. __________________ G8JET BVWS Archivist and Member V.M.A.R.S

11th Jul 2018, 12:05 pm	#9
David Simpson Nonode Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Aberdeen, UK. Posts: 2,853	Re: Mystery wooden box? Help identifying please Speaking as a collector/restorer of old maritime equipment, I reckon you've got a nice old rare gem. Well worth your while restoring the base of the lovely cabinet. The whole wooden casing will varnish/polish up a dream. It looks like it might have a DF facility. Possibly by moving the detachable lid cum antenna. I think you'll find that they are 2.0V Filament valves, not 20V. If I were you I'd follow up Mike's info & acquire a circuit diagram. The 2V Heater supply would've come from an Exide 2V Rechargeable Glass Cell. HT from an Ever Ready or Vidor Dry Battery. The XSG's Filament, for example, would draw 80mA from a 2.0V Cell, it's Anode would need 50V HT & draw 0.4mA, Screen would need 30V HT. The other valves(cant find any info in my AVO VDM, or Bernards), would be something similar. So bench supply-wise, you'd need 2V from a DC PSU & an HT PSU to give up to 100V DC. Many folk these days make up HT Battery Packs out of PP3 rechargeable batteries & fit them inside replica Ever Ready or Vidor cardboard packaging. I think you can easily download their profiles & print onto thin cardboard. Regards, David

11th Jul 2018, 5:36 pm	#10
Trauma56 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Trowbridge, Wiltshire,UK. Posts: 4	Re: Mystery wooden box? Help identifying please Thanks so much for everyones replies, and info. Knowing who manufactured the radio will help sorting out parts, and wiring diagrams. I'll keep you updated as I progress with the restoration. I'm sure to have a thousand questions. Kind regards to all. Joe

11th Jul 2018, 5:37 pm	#11
Craig Sawyers Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 4,982	Re: Mystery wooden box? Help identifying please They are all Hivac. The XD2.0 is a 2V heater triode (4 pin), and XY2.0 is a 2V heater pentode (5 pin), XSG is a 2V heater pentode (4 pin). They are all listed in the AVO VCM163 manual. But that also has set up data for the other AVO valve testers too. Craig

11th Jul 2018, 6:16 pm	#12
Trauma56 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Trowbridge, Wiltshire,UK. Posts: 4	Re: Mystery wooden box? Help identifying please Thanks Craig, I'll look into getting that manual. Joe

12th Jul 2018, 11:25 am	#13
Craig Sawyers Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 4,982	Re: Mystery wooden box? Help identifying please An OCR version of the VCM163 data manual is here https://frank.pocnet.net/instruments...R-20150222.pdf And the original source of that here https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=114306

12th Jul 2018, 11:34 am	#14
newlite4 Octode Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bath, Somerset, UK. Posts: 1,805	Re: Mystery wooden box? Help identifying please What a fantastic find Joe, I wish the charity shops over here in Bath had stuff like that! Well Done, Neil __________________ preserving the recent past, for the distant future.